I’ve posted all of these lists as single lists, but I’m compiling them into a one comprehensive list for your convenience. I trust the critics on this list more than any others. I don’t have any problem finding books to read on my own, but I often find myself directed to books that I might not ordinarily read by the good tastes of my fellow mystery fans and critics who contribute so much to our labor of love, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine and its Barry Awards. I’m grateful beyond words.

Ali Karim

Crime
THE TURNGLASS by Gareth Rubin
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
KILL FOR ME KILL FOR YOU, Steve Cavanagh
LYING BESIDE YOU, Michael Robotham
HOLLY, Stephen King
Thrillers
THE SCARLET PAPERS, Matthew Richardson
THE SECRET by Lee and Andrew Child
Non-Fiction
WORD MONKEY by Christopher Fowler

Jeff Popple

Crime
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
I AM ALREADY DEAD, David Whish-Wilson
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
THE DETECTIVE UP LATE, Adrian McKinty
THE CARETAKER, Gabriel Bergmoser
THE KIND WORTH SAVING, Peter Swanson
THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE, Richard Osman
Thriller
THE SCARLET PAPERS, Matthew Richardson
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
THE RUSH, Michelle Prak (April, 2024 in U.S.)
MOSCOW EXILE, John Lawton
A LINE IN THE SAND, Kevin Powers
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, Martin Cruz Smith
Debut
THE RUSH, Michelle Prak
BETTER THE BLOOD, Michael Bennett
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, Jo Callaghan
THE DIVE, Sara Ochs
HEADLAND, John Byrnes
HOW TO KILL A CLIENT, Joanna Jenkins
A DISAPPEARANCE IN FIJI, Nilima Rao

Meredith Anthony

Mystery
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES, Malka Older
THE MOTION PICTURE TELLER, Colin Cotterill
OUT OF THE ASHES, Kara Thomas
THE CLIFF EDGE, Charles Todd
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
MALIBU BURNING, Lee Goldberg
THE RUNNING GRAVE, Robert Galbraith
THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE, Richard Osman
Thriller
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
BURNER, Mark Greaney
MY FATHER’S HOUSE, Joseph O’Connor
THE TRAITOR, Ava Glass
DROWNING, T. J. Newman
DEADLOCK, James Byrne
THE SPY COAST, Tess Gerritsen
THE HELSINKI AFFAIR, Anna Pitoniak
THE SECRET, Lee Child and Andrew Child
Debut
CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, Iris Yamashita
THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW, I. S. Berry
THE CLEMENTINE COMPLEX, Bob Mortimer

Larry Gandle

Crime and Thriller Novels
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
KILL FOR ME KILL FOR YOU, Steve Cavanagh (U.S. in 2024)
DROWNING, T. J. Newman
RED QUEEN, Juan Gomez-Jurado
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, William Kent Krueger
Literary Novels with Crime Fiction or Thriller Elements
AGE OF VICE, Deepti Kapoor
CROOK MANIFESTO, Colson Whitehead
PROPHET SONG, Paul Lynch
THE VASTER WILDS, Laura Groff

“Mystery” Mike Bursaw

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
THE LONGMIRE DEFENSE, Craig Johnson
MY FATHER’S HOUSE, Joseph O’Connor
GOING ZERO, Anthony McCarten
ASSASSIN EIGHTEEN, John Brownlow
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
ONLY THE DEAD, Jack Carr
ALLIGATOR ALLEY, Mike Lawson
UPPERCUT, Mark Dawson
NO RESERVE, Felix Francis
THE VICAR, A. J. Chambers
BURNER, Mark Greaney
THE BITTER PAST, Bruce Borgos

Mike Dillman

LYING BESIDE YOU, Michael Robotham
DARK CORNERS, Megan Goldin
SLEEPLESS CITY, Reed Farrel Coleman
NO SECRETS, David Jackson
ONLY THE DEAD, Jack Carr
WHAT WE HAVE DONE, Alex Finlay
DROWNING, T. J. Newman
GOING ZERO, Anthony McCarten
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, William Kent Krueger
ASSASSIN EIGHTEEN, John Brownlow (U.S. title in 2024)
SECOND SHOT, Cindy Dees
LION & LAMB, Duane Swierczynski & James Patterson
THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW, I. S. Berry
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
EVERY THING SHE FEARED, Rick Mofina

Ayo Onatade

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
THE SECOND MURDERER, Denise Mina
THE TURNGLASS, Gareth Rubin (£16.99, UK only)
VIPER’S DREAM, Jake Lamar
THE MCMASTER’S GUIDE TO HOMICIDE, Rupert Holmes
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
OZARK DOGS, Eli Cranor
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
THE LAND OF LOST THINGS, John Connolly
THE LOST DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, Jack Jewers (2022 title in U.S.)
THE SQUARE OF SEVENS, Laura Shepherd Robinson

Steele Curry

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
THE BLOOD OF OTHERS, Graham Hurley
THE SCARLET PAPERS, Matthew Richardson
MY FATHER’S HOUSE , Joseph O’Connor
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
MOSCOW EXILE, John Lawton
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, Martin Cruz Smith
TRIBES, John Clarkson
MIDDLEMEN, Scott Thornly
THE BURNING TIME, Peter Hanington
THE COLLECTOR, Daniel Silva
THE DETECTIVE UP LATE, Adrian McKinty
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
THE CITY OF GOD, Michael Russell
A PATIENT DEATH, John Farrow
DARK RIDE, Lou Berney
WHO THE HELL IS HARRY BLACK?, Jake Needham

Ted Hertel

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
HER DEADLY GAME, Robert Dugoni
EVIL INTENTIONS COME, Timothy J. Lockhart
OZARK DOGS, Eli Cranor
WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS, Kate Alice Marshall
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, William Kent Krueger
LOWDOWN ROAD, Scott Von Doviak
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
DARK RIDE, Lou Berney
TOO MANY BULLETS by Max Allan Collins
HERE IN THE DARK by Alexis Soloski

George Easter

Crime Novels
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
HOLLY, Stephen King
LYING BESIDE YOU, Michael Robotham
RED QUEEN, Juan Gomez-Jurado
THE DETECTIVE UP LATE, Adrian McKinty
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, William Kent Krueger
EXPECTANT, Vanda Symon
THE RUNNING GRAVE, Robert Galbraith
MURDER IN THE FAMILY, Cara Hunter
Crime and Thriller Debuts
THE BITTER PAST, Bruce Borgos
BETTER THE BLOOD, Michael Bennett
CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, Iris Yamashita
THE GOLDEN GATE, Amy Chua
THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW, I. S. Berry
GOING ZERO, Anthony McCarten
THE TRIAL, Rob Rinder (U.K. only)
Thrillers
THE SCARLET PAPERS, Matthew Richardson (2024 title in U.S.)
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
BURNER, Mark Greaney
ASSASSIN EIGHTEEN, John Brownlow (2024 title in U.S.)

Robin Agnew

Best Cozy
A FATAL GROOVE, Olivia Blacke
BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE, Leslie Budewitz
HOT POT MURDER, Jennifer J. Chow
A WEALTH OF DECEPTION, Trish Esden
THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DATING, S.K. Golden
WRONG POISON, Nikki Knight
MURDER AND MAMON, Mia P. Manasala
HOP SCOT, Catriona McPherson
REHEARSED TO DEATH, Frank Anthony Polito
VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS, Jesse Q. Sutanto
Best Historical
A COLD HIGHLAND WIND, Tasha Alexander
PROUD SORROW, James R. Benn
PICTURE IN THE SAND, Peter Blauner
ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A LORD, Celeste Connally
I HEARD A FLY BUZZ WHEN I DIED, Amanda Flower
A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL, Julia Kelly
THE MISTRESS OF BHATIA HOUSE, Sujata Massey
THE LADY FROM BURMA, Allison Montclair
MURDER UNDER A RED MOON, Harini Negendra
A DISAPPEARANCE IN FIJI, Nilima Rao
Best of the Year
GLORY BE, Danielle Arceneaux
MURDER MOST ROYAL, S.J. Bennett
THE RAGING STORM, Ann Cleeves.
THE MOTION PICTURE TELLER, Colin Cotterill
A KILLING OF INNOCENTS, Deborah Crombie
THE BONES OF THE STORY, Carol Goodman
THE LAST REMAINS, Elly Griffiths
BLOOD BETRAYAL, Ausma Zehanat Khan
BLOOD SISTERS, Vanessa Lillie
A STOLEN CHILD, Sarah Stewart Taylor

Kevin Burton Smith

Crime Novels
HOLLY, by Stephen King
THE SECOND MURDERER, Denise Mina
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MATTHEW SCUDDER, Lawrence Block
THE RUNNING GRAVE, Robert Galbraith
LAST SEEN IN LAPAZ, Kwei Quartey
A DEATH IN DENMARK, Amulya Maladi
DEATH OF A DANCING QUEEN, by Kimberly G. Giarratano
BAD INFLUENCE; by Alison Gaylin
ODYSSEY’S END, by Matt Coyle
TOO MANY BULLETS; by Max Allan Collins
Graphic Novel and Comic
HOMICIDE: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, PARTS 1 & 2; by David Simon and Philippe Squarzoni
GOTHAM CITY: YEAR ONE, Tom King & Philip Hester

Craig Sisterson

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby
DARK RIDE by Lou Berney
DEATH OF A LESSER GOD by Vaseem Khan
EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper
OZARK DOGS by Eli Cranor
PROM MOM by Laura Lippman
SING HER DOWN by Ivy Pochoda
SMALL MERCIES by Dennis Lehane
STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND by Liz Nugent
THE DETECTIVE UP LATE by Adrian McKinty
THE LAST DANCE by Mark Billingham
THE SECOND MURDERER by Denise Mina

Mike Ripley

MOSCOW EXILE, John Lawton
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
OZARK DOGS, Eli Cranor
A LINE IN THE SAND, Kevin Powers
VIPER’S DREAM, Jake Lamar

Hank Wagner

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, William Kent Krueger
HOLLY, Stephen King
BREAKNECK, Marc Cameron
SISTERS OF THE LOST NATION, Nick Medina
THE WILD ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, Vol. 2, Will Murray
THE DONUT LEGION, Joe R. Lansdale
LOWDOWN ROAD, Scott Von Doviak
TOO MANY BULLETS, Max Allan Collins
CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, Iris Yamashita